Card-index holder



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:Patente d Feb. 8, 1927..

RALPH W. BENTON, OF HAVFIRHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

CARD-INDEX HOLDER.

Application filed June 26,

This invention relates to certain improvements in card index holders bf the type on which the cards are detachably connected at one edge to a. frame or flat support and lie nearly fiat in overlapping relation, so that the title, or other indlcating mark on each card, will be exposed.

In holders of this nature, it is desirable to provide means whereby the cards may be readilyremoved and replaced, and may be so mounted that they may he slid to different positions in the frame to permit the insertion of new cards and may at all times be held in properly spaced relation. It'is' also desirable to employ in this connection cards of a type having a small wire secured thereto at one edge and having the ends project beyond the ends of the card, to provide a means for pivotally connecting th 9 card to the holder.

The objects of my invention'are to provide a card holding means having the above described characteristics, which is of simple construction and is adapted to permit the ready insertion and removal of cards of the character above-referred to.

I accomplish these objects by providing a series of holders, each of which consists of a narrow strip of metal adapted to be slidably mounted in the guides of the 'cardsupport, and is provided with a slotted socket for the reception of the projecting wiresof the cards which permits the same to #be readily inserted. I

' For a more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of my invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan view-of an index card suport or slide provided with card-holding means embodying my invention.

Fig. 2. is an end view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the card-holding means which I employ, on an enlarged scale. Fig. .4 is a detail view of a card fitted with the'attaehing means which I employ.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, at line 5-5 of Fig. 4, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a detail edge view of the cardholding means.

' Fi 7 is a sectional view of the frame at line -7 of 1. p v Fig.8 is a etail perspective view of a holder bar which I employ and 1925. Serial N0. 39,653. J

Figs. 9 and 10 are detail sectional views and Fig. 1]. is a perspective view, of one end portion thereof.

As shown in the drawing the main frame for supporting the cards is similar to that commonly employed in like devices, and

comprises a fiat support, or slide 10 having gulde-way grooves 11 at its edges which operi towards each other. A series of cards 12 are provided, each of which is fitted with a small resilient wire 13 at its upper end edge, the diameter of the wire being preferably approximately. the same as, or but slightly greater than the thickness of the card and being secured thereto by a thin metal clip, or tab 14, of cloth or paper, which extends over the wire and is adhesively connected to each side of the card,

as indicated in Fig.6. Each wire extends continuously from end tov end of its card and projects beyond the ends of the card to d Other means of attaching form trunnions. the wire than that indicated might he employed, for example, if the card is used in double form, as is frequently the case,.it may be doubled about the wire, and independent means to secure it in place may be employed. The arrangement shown is however considered preferableyas the card may be inserted in an ordinary typewrlting machine so that the matter to be written thereon may be typed on either side.

I further provide a holder for. each card, which consists of a resilient metal strip 15 of a width corresponding to the width of the space-which it is desired to separate the top edges of adjacent cards and of a length nearly equal to the distance between the bottomsof the guide grooves 11, the end portions of the strips are bent outwardly at right angles to form end guide faces 16, and then reversely, or towards each other to form top guide faces 17 the distance be- .tween which and the back s'de of the strip is slightly 'less than the widt .of the guide grooves, so than-when the end portions of the strip are placed in the grooves 11 it will be free to slide therein. The extreme end portions 18 of the strip are also bent inwardly at right angles, so that their. end.

edges engage the strip portions therebeneath, and each end portion 18 is provided with a notch or slot 20, in the middle thereof, which opens to its end edge, so that the notch is closed by the strip portion with which its end abuts, therebyv providing sock ets adapted to receive the projecting end portions of the wire .13. The card is placed in the holder by bending the wire 13 suiticiently to permit its end portion to be in serted in the sockets 20, so that the portions "16 and 18 of the holder strip form a hearing for the wire, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 9.

The card, having been placed in position in a holder, may be readily inserted in the guide grooves of the support by bending the holder and wire sufficiently topermit insertion of the heads formed on the end or the holder by portions 16,17 and 18 thereof. When thus, inserted, the cards. will be pivotallysuspended in the support and may be slid to any position therein, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 7. As thus arranged, the

edges of adjacent holders engage, thereby providing proper spacing of .the cards. If it is desired to remove a card, either the card maybe removed from its holder, or

' both the card and holder may-be removed When sepa-.

together, as will be obvious. rated from its holder, a cardmay be readily inserted ina typewriting mach1ne.' To permit ready insertion 'ofthe fingers between the holders and the support in which they are held, when they are to be removed, a rib 22 is provided in the middle of the support which causes the holders to be sprung outwardly at their middle portions, as indicated on'Fig. 2. Follower blocks 24 may also be provided in the guide grooves to hold the edges of the holders in contact if desired.

Bytforining the sockets so that they open to the surface of the strip, the facility with which the cards may be placed in position in the-holders is increased, as with this construction, the wire 13 of the card.

maybe held against the surface of the holderfand thetrunnion portions thereof, may

he slid into the socket v20 while thus, held,

the surface of the holder thus forming a guide to direct the end of the wire into the same.v When a" card is in position in itsholder,-theed ge portion thereof bearing the.

wire will be directly ,onthe holder, when i the cardv is restingflat on the support, or it may be lifted'slightly therefrom, as shown in Fig. 10.

-The strips of metal, from which the holders are formed, may be cut fromsheet metal,

the end portion being'bent, to form the guldes, either before or after cutting, ac-

cording to the method of manufacture adopted. The notches 20 will beformed in the ends of the strips, before the bending operations thereon are performed. I

The holder strips may be used indefinitely, as they do'not have to be renewed when the cards are renewed, and, Whether each 'card' which is renewed is supplied with a new wire, or with one which has been previously employed, is a matter of expediency,

depending on the specific form of attaching means for the wire which is considered desirable tov employ. It may, however, be

readily applied by one of several methods."

Aside from the features of advantage of the construction above referred to,-the construction has the further advantage in that thecards will lie nearly flat when the support is'inthe horizontal position and may be readily turned over, sothat they'will lie flat in the opposite position. The construction presents advantages in this respect over those constructions which bled form of card. I

I claim: y p In a card index of the character described, a flat support having oppositely disposed "guide grooves, a series of; card holders each comprising a fiexiblemetal strip havin'g its end portions bent transversely and then. reversely with relation to the intermediate portions of the strip, to form, guiding portions adapted to be'slidably fitted in said adapted to be removably inserted in said sockets to provide a pivotal connection therewith. Q r

In testimony whereof, I'have slgned my name to this specification.

RALPH WLRENTON.

require the dou 

